Kayla Ernst is an associate in Ice Miller’s Labor and Employment Group. Kayla joined Ice Miller in September 2016 and is admitted to practice law in Indiana.

Kayla received her juris doctor from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, where she graduated summa cum laude, Order of the Coif, and finished first in her class. At law school, Kayla served as a Managing Editor of the Ohio State Law Journal, and she worked in the Justice for Children Legal Clinic, where she represented children in immigration and delinquency matters. During law school, Kayla also worked as a legal intern at the Ohio Industrial Commission, which involved researching issues arising under workers compensation law.

Prior to law school, Kayla received her Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Kenyon College, where she majored in English. During college, Kayla played on the varsity basketball team for four years and was a three-time first team All-Conference player. Her senior year she was named North Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year and Academic All-American, among other honors. At Kenyon, Kayla also participated in the John W. Adams Summer Scholars Program in Socio-Legal Studies.

During summers prior to and at college, Kayla worked as a factory worker at a manufacturer of concession equipment in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her experience included working in the wiring department and working on the assembly line. Kayla also spent a summer as an office clerk at a law firm in Cincinnati where she filed documents in various courts, worked as a receptionist, and performed other office-related jobs for secretaries and attorneys. From these experiences, Kayla gained an appreciation for the complex issues faced in both blue collar and white collar workplaces, which motivated her to enter labor and employment law following law school.